Method of making razor blade packages



R. NADEAU EFAL METHOD OF MAKING RAZOR BLADE PACKAGES Emily 13, 1943.

Filed Aug. 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet Y E N R O T A July 13, 943. R. NADEAU ETAL METHOD OF MAKING RAZOR BLADE PACKAGES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. '15, 1940 INVENTORS R033 IVADE/QU flA/Td/V IQGTHSCl/M/TT ATTORNEY R. NADEAU ET AL METHOD OF MAKING RAZOR BLADE PACKAGES Filed. Aug. 15; 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 205s ATTORNEY p540 BY AWTU/V mscu 177' .July 13, 1943. R. NADEAU EIAL 2,324,016

METHOD OF MAKING RAZOR BLADE PACKAGES Filed Aug. 15, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 m INVENTORS Rossv NADEAU HNTUN R07'H$CHM/7'7 ATTORNEY Patented July 13, 1943 METHOD OF MAKING RAZOR BLADE PACKAGES Ross Nadeau, Newark, and Anton Rothschmltt, Irvlngton, N. J., assignors to Club Razor & Blade Manufacturing Corp., Newark, N. 1., acorporation of New Jersey Application August 15, 1940, Serial No. 352,706

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to razor blades. More particularly our invention relates to an improved razor blade package and to a novel method and means for making the same.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide an improved process and apparatus for wrapping razor blades of the character described which shall consist of such steps and which shall comprise apparatus so constructed and arranged that the speed with which the blades may be wrapped or packaged shall be greatly increased thereby lowering the manufacturing cost.

Another object of our invention is to provide in a method and means for wrapping razor blades of the character described, an improved method and arrangement of apparatus whereby the wrapping or packaging of such blades may be accomplished by a continuous non-stop process.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an apparatus for wrapping razor blades of the character described which shall be characterized by certain novel constructional features relating to the blanking, blade feeding, folding and other features representing a general improvement in the art and which will, at the same time, speed up the quantity of razor blades wrapped.

A further object of our invention is to provide a highly improved razor blade package which shall be so designed that the blade contained therein will be prevented from movement with respect to the wrapper and thus the tendency for the cutting edges of the blade to break through the wrapping will be reduced to a minimum.

Further objects of our invention will become apparent in the following detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawings,

"Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the various steps employed in our novel process for wrapping razor blades;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the paper strip shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating the same after the printing and blanking operations have taken place;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged perspective views of portions of the wrapping strip shown in Fig. 1, but illustrating further steps in our improved rocess;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 3 to 5, but illustrating a further step in our improved process;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modified form of our invention;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 8 but relating to the form of invention shown in Fi 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical sectional views through theapparatus representing an embodiment of our invention and illustrating the improved continuous wrapping process from the blanking operation of the paper web through to the insertion of the individually wrapped blades into cartons;

Fig. 13 is a slightly enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line l3l3 of Fig. 11;

Figs. 14 and 15 are enlarged cross-sectional views taken substantially on the lines |4-l4 and l5l5 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of the blade feeding apparatus shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 1'7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line Il-I'l of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line |8IB of Fig. 11;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating in greater detail a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional viewof reduced size taken substantially on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line ll-2| of Fig. 11;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view 01 a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2424 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2525 of Fig. 12-;

Fig. 26 is an enlarged elevational view, partly sectional, similar to a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 11, but illustrating a modified form of our invention; and

Fig. 27 is an end elevational view (partly sectional) thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 to 8 there is illustrated the various steps in our improved process for wrapping safety razor blades of the double-edged type. Heretofore the packing of razor blades of the class described has generally been accomplished in a. rotary system comprising a number of stations and in which certain operations were performed at each station. In this system a stopping of the operation of the process occurred during the time when the articles were transferred from one station to another. This intermittent operation resulted in a loss of efficiency in production. In accordance with our invention there is provided a process which is continuous and uninterrupted and by means of which we have been able to greatly increase the number of razor blades wrapped per minute.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 8 the continuous process for wrapping razor blades in accordance with our invention comprises the following steps. A strip or continuous web 30 of suitable razor blade wrapping material, such as paper, is unrolled from a reel 3i and after passing over a suitable tension roller 32 is fed through a. suitable printing mechanism 33 where it is printed in accordance with a predetermined design. After the strip 30 emerges from the printing mechanism 33 it is next blanked while continuing to move in an axial direction .to provide cut-out or notched areas 35 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Simultaneously with the blanking operation the strip 30 may be provided with score lines 36 dis posed transversely of the length of the strip and suitably positioned with respect to a subsequent folding operation. A spot of glue 31 or other suitable adhesive substance is next deposited on the moving strip 30 in a predetermined position. The strip 30 continues to move on to the next station where a pair of score lines 39, parallel to the longitudinal edges of the strip 30 are provided, the strip 30, then appearing as shown in Fig. 3 where it is noted that a pair of end fiaps 4| are thus formed.

While the strip 30 still continues to move axially a naked blade 40 ready for use is deposited on the said strip 30. As shown in Fig. 4 the blade 40 is disposed transversely of the length of the strip 30 and in the rectangular space formed by the pairs of score lines 36 and 39. It is noted that in accordance with our invention, the score lines 36 are spaced apart so as to leave a slight margin between each score line 36 and a cutting edge 40a of the blade 40, while the end edges 40b of the blade 40 are disposed substantially flush with the score lines 39, the purpose of this latter arrangement will soon become apparent. As the strip 30 continues to move the short flaps 4| defined by the score lines 39 and the longitudinal edges of the strip 30 are folded over from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 to the full line position. Due to the fact that the end edges 40b of the blade 40 substantially coincide with the score lines 39, the folding of the fiaps 4| is effected with the said edges 40b as folding gauges. As clearly shown in Fig. 6 and as described above the blade 40 will thus be prevented from movement in a direction across the width of the strip 30 and will consequently remain in a fixed position, thus preventing the sharp edges 40a of the blade 40 from cutting into the paper strip 30.

The next step in the process of our invention is to out the strip 30 at predetermined intervals on predetermined transverse cutting lines 42 to provide a pair of long flaps 43 and 44 defined by the score lines 36. The flaps 43 and 44 are then folded inwardly toward each other on the score lines 36, to overlap as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Since the flan 44 carries the adhesive spot 31, the flap 43 is folded over first and the flap 44 caused to overlie the flap 43. A slight pressure is then exerted on the uppermost flap 44,

which causes the spot 31 to adhere to the flap 43, thus completely enveloping the blade 45 in a wrap in The strip 35 may be made of any suitable paper for wrapping blades, such as for example, paper having a waterproofed or waxed coating :0 protect the blades from corrosion due to moisure.

If desired a double wrapper may be provided for the blade 43. In such case, as shown in Fig. 9 the outer wrapper may be composed of any desired material known to the art such as the strip 30 which may be printed on one side, while the inner wrapper may be waxed and may be made from a second web or strip 45 overlying the strip 30', the said strips 45 and 33' being moved axially in a continuous process as hereinbefore described. In this latter form of my invention, however, a hole 46 may be provided in the strip 43 at predetermined intervals so that the glue spot 31 will penetrate to the outer wrapper 33' to maintain the package in closed position as shown in Fig. 10.

In accordance with our invention the continuous process above described continues with the stacking of a measured number of wrapped blades, in this case five, as shown by the stack 41 in Fig. 1, after which the stack is automatically inserted in a cardboard carton 43 of customary construction and is then carried oil, as shown by the arrow 49, for boxing and shipping.

It is noted that by feeding the naked blades 45 on to the moving strip 30 in a transverse direction with respect to the length of the strip 33, the interval between the depositing of the blades may be made much shorter than when the blades are deposited in direction with their longitudinal axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strip 30. Our continuous process is thereby greatly speeded up by feeding the blades in a transverse direction.

In Figs. 11 to 25 there is illustrated in greater detail than that shown in Fig. 1, an apparatus for carrying out the above described process and for producing, as a new article of manufacture, the wrapped blade or blade package shown in Figs. '7 and 8, which has produced satisfactory results and which also contemplates the following novel features of construction.

Any suitable type of printing mechanism well known to the art may be employed for printing the strip 30 used for wrapping the blades 45. From the printing mechanism the strip 35 is fed to a blanking device 50 shown in Fig. 11, the said blanking device being so designed as to cut-out predetermined portions 35 of the strip 35 for forming the flaps 4! as hereinbefore described, without interrupting the continuous axial movement of the said strip 30. The blanking device 50 may comprise a pair of tension rollers 5| and 52 mounted on the shafts 53 and 54 respectively, the said shafts 53 and 54 being in turn journaled in a frame 55, as shown in Figs, 11 and 13. The upper roller 5| is mounted on an arm 55 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the frame 55 by means of the pivot 51. A spring 53 supplies the tension for the roller 5|.

An upper negative die 60 and a lower positive die H are provided, the said dies 60 and 5| being so arranged that when they come together in the position shown in Fig. 13 they will blank or cut out portions 62 (see Fig. 13) forming the notches 35 shown in Fig. 2. A suitable chute A may be provided for carrying'ofl the blanked portions 62. The following means are provided for moving the dies 88 and 8| toward and away from each other in proper synchronism with the movement of the strip 88 to render the blanking operation continuous and uninterrupted.

The die 68 is mounted on a collar 88 which is in turn freely mounted on a shaft 84. Similarly the die 6| i mounted on a collar 65 which is in turn freely mounted on a shaft 66. The shafts 64 and 86 may be integral with and at the same time eccentric with respect to the axes of a pair of shafts 61 and 88 respectively, Joumaled in the frame 55. It is thus seen from the above description that when the shafts 81 and 68 are rotated the shafts 64 and 66 will travel in an orbit with respect to the axes of the said shafts 61 and 68. The shafts 61 and 68 are caused to rotate by means of a main driving shaft I8, through a bevel gear 'II fixed to the said shaft I8 which is in mesh with a second bevel gear I2 fixed to a shaft 18 for rotation therewith. The shaft I8 is journaied in the frame 55. Also fixed to the shaft I8 for rotation therewith is a main driving gear I4. Directly in mesh with the gear I4 is a gear 15 fixed to the shaft 61 and an idler gear I6 mounted on.a shaft 11 supported by theframe 55. A gear I8 fixed to the shaft 68 is directly in mesh with the idler gear I6.

It is therefore seen from the above described construction that when the main driving shaft I8 is rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed from Fig. 11) the gear I4 will cause the gears I5 and I6 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, and the gear I8 will then be rotated in a clockwise direction. The gears I5 and I8 will then be rotated in opposite directions and the dies 68 and 6|, during a predetermined period of movement in their orbit will move in the same direction and at the same rate as the strip 88.

The dies 68 and 6| may be guided in their movements and prevented from lateral displacement by a pair of brackets I8 and 88 respectively slidably mounted on the rods 8|.

The dies 88 and GI may be so designed as to provide the transverse score lines 86 (see Fig. 8) simultaneously with the blanking operation.

The heretofore described automatic intermittent depositing of the adhesive 81 may be accomplished by providing an adhesive reservoir 82 (see Fig. 11) which may be fixed to the brackets 18 for movement therewith. An open tubular dispensing spout 88 is provided depending from the bottom of the reservoir 82 through which a quantity of adhesive is drawn out and deposited on the moving strip 88 each time that the spout 88 contactively engages the said strip 88 by the downward movementof the upper die 68 from its position shown in Fig. 11.

As also shown in Fig. 11, the strip 88 passes between pairs of suitably constructed tension rollers 84, 85 and 86, 81, to maintain the said strip under proper tension for the purpose of depositing a naked blade on the moving strip and of folding the end flaps 4 I. One suitable type of tension roller construction is shown in Fig. 14, where it is noted that in order to, avoid the destruction of the adhesive spot 81, the upper rollers 84 and 86 may each be provided with a central circumferential groove 88 (see Fig. 14) of sufficient width and depth to clear the spot 81. The roller 84 is preferably provided with a pair of scoring blades 88 which automatically make the score lines 88 while the strip passes through the rollers 84, 85.

After passing through the rollers 84, 85, the strip 88 continues its axial movement to a station asaeoro where a single blade 48 is deposited thereon in the space formed by the pairs of score lines 88 and 88 by the following means.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 15 to 1': it a noted that a supply 8 of blades 48 in condition to be wrapped is stacked between a pair of suitable guides 88. The ends of the lowermost blade are adapted to rest upon a pair of shoulders 81. At predetermined intervals and in synchronism with the movement of the strip 88 a slidably mounted pusher member 82 is actuated so as to engage the shoulders 480 of the lowermost blade only and to dislodge the said blade from the stack S and push the same from its dotted line position shown in Fig. 17 to the full line position where it clears the shoulders 8I and is then in position to drop down to be deposited on the surface of the movmg strip 88.

In order to guide the blade, which has been pushed from underneath the stack S, into its proper position on to the strip 88, there is provided a pair of fingers 88 which are designed to enter the openings of the type generally provided in double-edged blades, such as the blades 48 and to move, for a predetermined interval of time, in the direction of and with the same speed as that of the moving strip 88.

The following mechanism, shown in Figs. 15 and 16 is employed for effecting the synchronized movement of the fingers 88 to insure that the blade 48 will fall into its proper position on the moving strip. a

The fingers 88 are provided with integral angular extensions 88a which are in turn supported in a holding member 84 mounted on a shank 85. The said shank 85 is in turn rotatably mounted in a bearing 86 which forms a part of a vertically disposed plate 81. The plate 81, at its lower end, is fixed to a disc 88 eccentrically mounted on a shaft 88, for rotation therewith, the said shaft being in turn journaied in a bearing I88 fixed to a bracket I8I. Fixed to the shaft 88 for rotation therewith is a bevel gear I82 which is in mesh with another bevel gear I88 fixed to the main driving shaft I8.

It is thus seen from the above description that when the shaft I8 is rotated, the shaft 88 will rotate to cause the plate 81 and the member 84 to move in an orbit in accordance with the eccentric disc 88. Such orbit is so designed that the fingers 88 will enter the apertures 85 of the blade 48 just as the lowermost blade has been pushed off the stack S and the said fingers 88 will move with the blade in the same direction and with the same speed as that of the moving strip 88, to deposit the said blade 48 on the strip 88 without interrupting the continuous axial movement of the said strip 88. To more positively guide the movement of the fingers 88 I have provided the upper portion of the plate 81 with a slot I84 (see Fig. 15) in which a shaft I84a forming a part of an eccentric disc I 85, similar to the eccentric disc 88, freely operates. The eccentric disc I85 forms a part of a shaft I86 'journaled in the bearing I8I fixed to the bracket I8I. To cause the simultaneous rotation of the shafts 88 and I88, each of the said shafts 88 and I86 is provided with gears I88 and I88 respectively fixed thereto for rotation therewith and interconnected in meshing relationship by an idler pinion II8 on a shaft III supported by the bracket I8I.

After the blade 48 has been properly deposited on the moving strip 88, as above described, the next step in the operation of our continuous process, namely the folding of the end flaps 4| is accomplished by the following means.

As clearly shown in Figs. 11 and 18, an automatic folding device I I2 is mounted adjacent the moving strip 30 as above described, the next step in the operation of our continuous process, namely the folding of the end flaps H is accomplished by the following means.

As clearly shown in Figs. 11 and 18, an automatic folding device H2 is mounted adjacent the moving strip 30, designed to automatically fold the end flaps 4I inwardly toward each other on the score lines 39. The said device comprises a channel-shaped member consisting of the cammed side walls H4 and a bottom wall member H5.

The width of the channel formed between the walls I I4 is only slightly greater than the longest dimension of the blade 40 between ends 40b, so that the flaps 4I which have been slightly bent upwardly due to the score lines 39 will be automaticaliy folded over flush up against the said ends 40b, using the said ends as a folding gauge. The walls II4 are disposed directly in the path of the flaps 4| of the moving strip 30, so that the folding will automatically take place. the said score lines 30 being adapted to facilitate the folding process. It is noted that the angularity of the inner surfaces of the walls II4 becomes more acute as the flaps pass through the device so that the folding process is gradual and continuous. After emergence from the folding device II2 the folded flaps 41 are pressed down by the rollers 86 and 81 through which the strip 30 passes.

The next step in our process is the cutting of the moving strip 30 on the lines 42 (see Fig. 7) to form the longer flaps 43 and 44 which may then be automatically folded over to completely envelop the blade 40 in a wrapping. For this purpose I provide the following mechanism.

A cutting blade I20 is mounted for vertical reciprocatable movement in any suitable manner customarily employed for cutting moving strips, the said blade I20 being adapted to cooperate with a shearing edge I2I of a platform I22 over which the strip 30 passes, as shown in Fig. 19.

The strip 30 is transversely cut by the blade I20 on the lines 42 to free the flaps 43 and 44 which are then folded. Immediately after the cutting operation a presser foot I50 is lowered in proper synchronizedtime and presses the blade and adjacent strip portion lying underneath the blade into a recess I23 which causes the long flaps 43 and 44 to bend up angularly, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 19. When this has been done the direction of movement of the cut strip changes as shown in Fig. 1 so that it moves in the direction of the arrow I26 and out of the path of the moving strip 30 (see Figs. 1 and 22). As shown in Figs. 21 to 24, during the time that the cut strip portions and the blade move in the direction of the arrow I26, they are caused to pass through an automatic folding device I30 similar to the folding device I I2. The said folding device I30 comprises the spaced cammed walls I3I and the bottom wall member I 32 forming a channel as shown in Fig. 24. The completely enveloped blade is then thrust forward to be received in a recess I33- where it is stacked as shown in Figs. 22 and 23.

As shown in Figs. 21 and 22 the presser foot I34 is so designed that it may press down on the stack in the recess I33 after each newly wrapped blade is received therein to thereby blades.

flatten down the wrapper enveloping the blade and at the same time to cause the adhesive 31 to effectively hold the flaps in closed position The presser foot I34 may be suitably operated from the main driving shaft by the lever 200 in any suitable well known manner, such as that shown in Fig. 21. It is also noted that the presser foot I60 and the cutting blade I20 may be operated in the same manner as the operation of the presser foot I34 shown in Fig. 21, or in any other suitable manner known to the art.

After a predetermined number of blades have been stacked in the recess I33 they are automatically moved out of the recess by a pair of fingers I36 carried by a moving chain I31 connecting a pair of sprocket wheels I30 and I30 and passing over an idler sprocket wheel 2" forwardly disposed with respect to the sprocket I38. 'The chain I31 may be driven by a shaft 203 which in turn drives a second pair of sprocket wheels I4I (see, Fig. 12) and I42 (see Fig. 21) interconnected by the conveyor chain I43. The sprocket I42 is on the same shaft I40 as the sprocket I30. The stack of wrapped blades removed from the recess I33 is carried along by the fingers on the chain I31 for a short distance, as indicated in Fig. 1 after which a pusher-device I60 moves the stack of wrapped blades in the direction of the arrow I44 back to its original line and into a carton 48 which has been released from a stack W of cartons (see Fig. 12) and automatically opened for the reception of the stack of wrapped blades in any suitable manner known to the packaging art. The finished carton I46 is then deposited in a conveyor member I41 on the chain I43 to be conveyed and dropped oil. to a receiving chute I46.

In Fig. 25 I have illustrated one suitable manner in which the pusher device moves the stack of wrapped blades on the chain I31 into the open carton 48. It is noted that the pusher device I60 comprises a slidably mounted member I6I provided with a hook portion I62 disposed in direct alignment with a stack X of wrapped the stack X of blades engaged by the fingers I30 and carried along by the movement of the chain I31 is properly positioned with respect to the dotted line position I60 of the pusher member I60 the said pusher member is caused to be slidably moved to its full line position I60. By such action it is seen that the hook portion I62 has engaged an end of the stack X and pushed the same along the table portion I63 and into a carton, open and in waiting position to receive the same, after which it is conveyed away by the members I41, the carton flaps being ultimately closed in any suitable manner well known in the packaging art.

Since, as above described, the axial movement of the strip 30 is continuous up to the point where it is transversely cut by the cutting blade I20,

we have provided the following means for maintaining the blades 40 deposited on the strip in proper position. As clearly shown in Figs. 19 and 20, at the instant when the cutter I20 is lowered into the cutting position shown, the strip 30 being in continuous movement is apt to buckle as shown at Y. In order to prevent such buckling action of the strip 30 from causing the blade 40 to be displaced from its proper position, there is provided a pair of rollers I00 and III adjacent the point where the cutting takes place, and at such position that a blade 40 will be frictionally held between the said rollers while the cutting The apparatus is so designed that when action takes place. As soon as the knife I20 is raised from the position shown in Fig. 19, the bulge Y will flatten out and the blade 40 will then proceed on its way in proper position on the strip 30 until the said strip reaches the next cutting line, when the knife I20 is again effectively brought down to sever the strip 30. The roller I8I may be mounted on a suitable shaft I82 journaled in a fixed bracket 204, while the roller I80 may be mounted on the shaft I83 which in turn is journaled in a bracket I84 pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot I85. It is thus seen that the tension force of the roller I80 against the roller I8I is tl'm force of gravity, or the weight of the bracket I84 and the roller I80. If desired an additional weight member I88 may be added to the bracket to provide additional tension.

The roller I80 may be provided with a circumferential groove I81 to clear the adhesive spot 31. A pair of gears I88 and I88 on the shafts I83 and I82 respectively may cause the simultaneous rotation of the rollers I80, IN, the said gears I88 and I89 being driven from a driving gear I80 fixed to the shaft I83.

While in the foregoing we have described our apparatus as applied to the enveloping of the naked blades in a single wrapper, it is understood that my invention may be equally satisfactorily applied to the wrapping of blades with a plurality of wrappers. In the latter event however, to more efficiently maintain the wrapper in closed position I provide the following means for automatically punching a hole in the inner wrapper, so that the adhesive spot 31 may pass therethrough and cause the folded flaps of the outer wrappers to adhere. A blade with an inner layer 205 and an outer layer 30' formed from the strip 30, wrapped in accordance with our invention and having the holes 206 in the inner wrapper 205 is shown in Fig. 10.

As shown in Figs. 26 and 2'7, the eccentric operative movement of the upper and lower blanking dies 60 and 6| are utilized for automatically punching the holes 206 in the inner wrapping 205.

The inner wrapping strip 205 may be fed from a suitable source of supply (not shown) over a roller 201 after which it is passed over a second roller 208 and then fed between the rollers and 52 to overlie the strip 30 and to be axially moved simultaneously therewith.

Adjustably mounted on a bracket 208, supported on the rod 8|, is a positive hole punching die 2I0 of proper size to provide the holes 206. The die 2I0 is disposed on the upper side of the strip 205. Disposed on the opposite side of the strip 205 from that of the die 2I0 is a cooperating negative hole punching die 2I I. The die 2 is mounted on the bracket I9, for integral movement with the blanking die member 60, so that each time the blanking die 80 moves from the down position shown in Fig. 26 to the up position shown in Fig. 11, the dies H0 and 2 will have been brought together to punch a hole 206 in the strip 205. A chute portion 2I2 (see Fig. 27) may be provided to carry away the punched out portions of the strip 205. The operation of the above mentioned hole punching device is so synchronized with respect to the movement of the upper blanking die 80, and consequently with the movement of the reservoir 82 that the spot of adhesive 31 will be deposited through the opening 208 and on the strip 30'. It is thus seen from the above description that when the double wrapper package is manufactured the spot of adhesive 31 will hold the enveloped blade 80 in wrapped condition in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

It is therefore seen that by our invention we have produced an improved blade package in which the blade contained therein will be pre vented from shifting within the wrapping and thus the tendency of the sharpened edges of the blade to cut through the package is eliminated. Also by our inventive process the wrapping of razor blades may be greatly speeded up, and at the same time simplified.

While in the drawings we have shown one suitable apparatus for producing the wrapped blade of our invention and for practicing our process, it is understood that other suitable blade wrapping and packaging apparatus known to the art may be satisfactorily employed for carrying out the various steps of our process. However, particular attention is drawn to the apparatus for performing the blanking and blade feeding operations as well as other portions of the apparatus which are disclosed in greater detail and contain certain novel constructional features which come within the scope of the present invention.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle and operation of my invention, together with the construction which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention i can be carried out by other means.

Also, while itis designed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and th invention extends to such use.

Having described my invention what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a method of wrapping razor blades of the character described the steps comprising moving a strip of blade wrapping material axially, blanking out opposed portions of said moving strip adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof to form pairs of end flaps, intermittently depositing razor blades on said moving strip with the longitudinal axes of said blades at right angles to the axis of said strip, scoring said end flaps to provid fold lines therefor at points coinciding with the unsharpened end edges of said blades and transversely cutting said moving strip between each pair of adjacently disposed blades.

2. In a method of wrapping razor blades of the character described the steps comprising moving a strip of blade wrapping material axially, blanking out opposed portions of said moving strip adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof to form pairs of end flaps, intermittently depositing razor blades on said moving strip with the longitudinal axes of said blades at right angles to the axis of said strip, scoring said end flaps to provide fold lines therefor, folding said end flaps inwardly toward each other and over one side of said blade on said scored fold lines and against the end edges of said blade, said end edges of said blade serving as folding gauges, and transversely cutting said strip between each pair of adjacently disposed blades.

3. In a method of wrapping razor blades of the character described the steps comprising moving a strip of blade wrapping material axi- 3 Y, ally, blanking out opposed portions of said moving strip adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof.-to form pairs of end' i'iaps, intermittently depositing razor blades on said moving strip with the longitudinal axes of said blades at right angles to the axis 01" said strip, providing said 'end flaps with fold lines, automatically folding said end flaps inwardly toward each other and over one side of said blade on said fold lines and against the unsharpened end edges of said blade, and transversely cutting said strip between each pair of adjacently disposed blades. 4. In a method of wrapping razor blades of the character described the steps comprising moving a strip of blade wrapping material axially, blanking out opposed portions of said strip adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof while the said strip continues to move, to form pairs of end flaps and subsequent pairs of side flaps, scoring said end flaps while said strip continues to move to provide fold lines therefor, depositing a spot of adhesive on one of said side flaps. intermittently depositing razor blades on said strip while said strip continues to move, said bladesbeing disposed in alignment with and between pairs of end flaps and with the longitudinal axes of said blades at right angles to the direction of motion of said moving strip, first folding said end flaps inwardly towards each other over said blade, then folding the said side flap having the adhesive spot thereover, then folding said other side flap to overlie said adhesive spot and exerting a slight pressure to cause said side flaps to be joined by said adhesive.

5. In a method of wrapping razor blades of the character described the steps comprising continuously moving a'strip of blade wrapping material in a given direction, blanking out opposed portions of said strip adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof while the said strip continues to move, to form pairs of end flaps and subsequent pairs of side flaps, scoring said end flaps while said strip continues to move to provide fold lines therefor, intermittently depositing razor blades on said strip, while said strip continues t move, said blades being disposed in alignment with and between pairs of end flaps and with the longitudinal axes of said blades at right angles to the direction of motion of said moving strip and automatically causing said end flaps to befolded inwardly toward each other onsaidscoredfoldlinesandagainsttbeend edges of said blades, while said strip continues to move.

B. In a method'of wrapping razor blades of the character described the steps comprising causing a strip of blade wrappi material to be moved in a given direction, blanking out opposed portions of said strip adjacent the iongitudinal edges thereof. while the said strip continues to move, to form pairs of end flaps and pairs of side flaps, scoring said end flaps while said strip continues to move to provide fold lines therefor, intermittently depositing razor blades on said strip while said strip continues to move, said blades being disposed in alignment with and between pairs of end flaps and with the longitudinal axes of said blades at right angles to the direction of motion of said moving strip, automatically folding said end flaps inwardly toward each other on said scored fold lines and against the end edges of said blades while said strip continues to move and transversely cutting said strip between each adjacent pair of blades on a predetermined cutting line, while said strip continues to move. '7. In a method of wrapping razor blades of the character described the steps comprising moving a strip of blade wrapping material in a given direction, blanking out opposed portions of said strip adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof while the said strip continues to move, to form pairs of end flaps and pairs of side flaps, scoring said end flaps while said strip continues to move to provide fold lines therefor, intermittently depositing razor blades on said strip while said stliip continues to move, said blades being disposed in alignment with and between pairs of end flaps and with the longitudinal axes of said blades at right angles to the direction of motion of said moving strip, automatically folding said end flaps inwardly toward each other on said scored fold lines and against the end edges of said blades while said strip continues to move, transversely cutting said strip between each adjacent pair of blades on a predetermined cutting line while said strip continues to move and folding said side flaps inwardly toward each other to overlap and completely envelop each individual blade.

ROSS NADEAU. ANTON RO'IHSCHMI'I. 

